I knew Redwar had meant his words both as an explanation and as a statement.  The statement I understood, though not as well as I might later on.  But the explanation was what I was puzzling over as we made our way back to Mr. Time's tavern.  

There is something so wrong when what was meant to bring life destroys it...

I knew that by 'life' he meant the water inside the well, which kept humans alive.  But how could 'what brought life' in the form of water, become a destroyer of life? 

It took longer than it should have for me to come up with the answer, because I was busy following Redwar through the now completely darkened streets.  The goal was to be silent, and that took some concentration.  

But when I did find it, I understood.  There was one way to turn the water of life into death, and that was to put in it something that brings death.  

Poison.    

I shuddered to think of it, and I wondered what had caused Redwar to think of it.

There was just so much I didn't know about his Ravagerian past.  I knew he hated that he had been a part of it, that part I knew could not be faked.  But still, I was glad that he was here now, to teach us and warn us.  

Valeria and Daxton met us back at the tavern.  Valeria reported that Mr. Lotcin had gotten home safely, and that they'd waited outside his home for a good half hour to make sure he was safe.  They also said something interesting:  Mr. Lotcin wasn't married.  He was a bachelor with a huge dog for company.  

Daxton just stood in the shadows while Valeria filled us in.  I noticed he hung back and indicated to Redwar he wanted to talk to him.  Alone.  

I'd been raised too well by my parents and held tightly to honor by Redwar to eavesdrop.  I couldn't help being curious, but I knew it wouldn't be anything Redwar couldn't handle.  

We girls retired to our freshly scrubbed rooms exhausted.  Since we were in a town, and it'd been such a long day, Redwar let us have the night off from taking guard shifts.

Valeria graciously offered me the bed for the first night, but I put my foot down and told her to take it.  It was her turn, for she'd given me the bed for the first time in Terreth.  I was so tired that sleeping on the floor didn't make much of a difference to me. 

I awoke with the sunrise as per usual.  Valeria, as per usual, didn't wake up quite as quickly as me.  I'd have to tease her about that later.  

I crawled out from the under the covers and stretched, then sat and debated about what exactly I was going to do.  It was too late to watch the sunrise, and besides, I didn't have a place to watch it.  Breakfast wouldn't be for a little while yet, and after that I knew it'd be time for work. 

I hadn't seen the other side of town yet, but going without someone else for backup wasn't a great idea, especially with how tense things were in this town.  

I shrugged, I might as well go visit Axe and untangle the sticks in his mane.  I hadn't had the chance to do that yesterday, but I hated having sticks in his mane.  

I pushed myself up off the floor, strapped on Bound, and padded silently in bare feet across the room with my boots and socks in one hand.  Holding my breath, I grasped the door knob and slowly turned it.  No sound announced that I was leaving the room, to my surprise, and I slipped out with ease.  

"Where're you going?"  

I flinched and chided myself for not looking the hallway over before stepping into it.

I turned to face Daxton, who was leaning against the wall with a bemused look on his face.  "I was going out to the stable to see Axe before breakfast."  

He raised an eyebrow.  "Sure you were."  

I rolled my eyes.  "Yes, I was, whether you believe it or not."  

"Redwar might not."  

"Redwar would."  And I knew I was probably right.  I also knew that Daxton also believed me, because he paid as much attention to his horse as I did to mine.  

I deftly pulled on my socks while watching Daxton.  He narrowed his eyes as he thought, before finally speaking.

"Wouldn't you like to go somewhere else more... exciting?" 

"Like, to the Mayor's side of town?"

He jerked his head in a nod.  

Now, I wasn't fond of the idea of going anywhere alone with Daxton.  But, he was the only one up, apparently, who would go with me.  I did want to see that other side of town, picking sticks out of Axe's mane could happen later. 

"Alright, let's go."   

Though it was still early, the town was stirring.  Looking down the street, I could see the vendors already opening their stalls in the market.  The smell of fresh bread drifting on the wind from the bakery made my mouth water.

Daxton didn't seem affected by any of that.  He barely spared a glance that in that direction.  Instead, he pointed up ahead.  "Did you see those horses yesterday?" 

Four horses were tied up in front of what looked to be the Sheriff's office.  They were unkept, and obviously ridden hard.  I shook my head.  "No, I don't remember them." 

He jerked his head again.  "Nor do I."  With that he set off at fast paced, but incredibly light-footed walk.  

I chose to let him take the lead, I was just along for the ride.  All I wanted was to see what the other side of town was like, but he seemed to be on a mission.

We crossed the square and ducked into a side alley.  I couldn't help but think that made us look even more suspicious, but Daxton didn't seem to care.  We went down the alley to the back of the building that flanked it. 

"This must be the jail," Daxton murmured.  I looked up at the barred windows.  Valeria had been right, it was pitiful.  It looked like all that would be needed for a successful jail break would be a chisel and mallet to break down the wood wall, or a solid rope to pull out one of the bars.  

I noted that down for future information and followed Derrek up the back of the building. 

There was a gap that separated the jail and Sheriff's office from another building.  I knew this wasn't the courthouse, or the Mayor's house, for it looked as rickety as the jail, but what was it then?  

Whatever it was, voices were coming from it.  A dirty window was just above our heads, and though it was closed, loud voices were coming through it.  I couldn't quite make out the words, but I wasn't about to eavesdrop on a private conversation.

"Let's go," I hissed to Daxton, but he shook his head, gazing up at the window.  

Before I could remind him that it was against honor to eavesdrop on private citizens, he sprung up and grabbed the windowsill with his hands.  Pulling himself up, he peered through the dirty glass unashamedly.  

"Daxton!"  

"Shhh."  He dropped down.  "Don't be so uptight."  

"What if someone saw you?"  

He shrugged.  "Then we run." 

"We're not hear to act like spies or fool around.  Maybe that's your life, but it is not mine," I snapped.  

He glared at me.  "I'm not fooling around."  And with that he turned his back to me to attempt another look-see through the window.  

"Well then, what are you doing?" 

"I'm trying to help your precious miners, but I can't do it if you keep pestering me," he barked back as he hauled himself up again.   

I blew a long, silent sigh through my nose.  Somehow, I knew there was no way I could turn him off his chosen path.  Besides, maybe he was trying to help the miners, but I couldn't see how peeking through a window was going to help.  It was probably an excuse of some sort. 

This time, he held on and looked for longer.  When he did drop down, he had a determined, serious look on his face that caught me off guard.

"We've got trouble." 

I resisted the urge to say something like, "Oh really?  Yeah, I suppose peeking through windows will bring that upon people", and instead just said, "We do?" 

He must have read what I wanted to say in my face.  "Yes, we do.  So you better get ready, missy, because this isn't going to be easy to deal with." 

He was talking about more than us getting in trouble for spying, he meant it.  I straightened up.  "What do you mean?" 

"Megidil is here."